Moneta's Temple and Gallery

Rome - Aes Formatum Cockle Shell - ca. 5th-3rd centuries BCE

Moneta — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 12:17:31 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: Not as impressive as the the other, larger, Aes Formatum cockle shell shown here in the Moneta Museum, but this one is in the Museum. It took a long while to hammer one down for the collection. Heritage description: Anonymous (ca. 5th-3rd centuries BC). AE aes formatum (26mm, 11.02 gm). As made. Cast leaded bronze in the form of a cockle shell. Thurlow & Vecchi p. 20. From the Salassi III Collection. These have been found in various places around the Mediterranean Sea, including Spain and Croatia, all places trading with Rome. The Aes Formatum are the sucessor of the Aes Rude (unshaped cast bronze pieces) and the predecessor to the Aes Grave (large heavy bronze coins). These are formed pieces of cast bronze, imitating actual objects or taking on recognizable shapes. Because the Aes Formatum system did not have a standard value, the values were determined based on the weights of the individual pieces. The Shell shape has confirmible weights varying from 5 to 121 grams. 400 BC - 201 BCE [Numista] Fifth century Rome saw the official valuation of bronze at equivalents of oxen and sheep, when in c. 450 the decemvirs codified the Roman Law in the famous 'Twelve Tablets' which recognized the bronze currency in use in central Italy (i.e., 1000 Asserae= 1 ox, 100 lbs of bronze = 1 ox, 10 Asserae= 1 sheep, etc). A system of barter with copper objects had long existed in central Italy where copper was plentiful and valued while silver was rare and gold nearly non-existent. The Italic population had produced Aes Rude from very early times and they are often found in hoards of votive deposits to divinities of fountains and rivers from the first half of the 1st millennium B.C. down to the end of the 4th century B.C. Called aes formatum by Haeberlin, this very rare bronze currency was a precursor to the issues of aes grave but later than aes rude. [Agora Auctions; Agora Sale 28 #74. and Sale 101 #270] VIEW: A great source of information on this very early form of "Coinage" is the NumisWiki at this https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=aes%20formatum

Rome - Scallop Shell Aes Formatum ~ 400 BCE

Moneta — Fri, 06 May 2022 16:45:07 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: ROMAN REPUBLIC: Anonymous, AE aes formatum (62.46g), uncertain Italian mint, ca. 500-300 BC, cf. ICC pl. 90, 4-5, 37 x 37 x 14mm, cast in the form of a scallop shell, very nice example, Choice VF. Fifth-century BC Rome saw the official valuation of bronze at equivalents of oxen and sheep, when in ca. 450 BC the decemvirs codified the Roman Law in the famous "Twelve Tablets", which recognized the bronze currency in use in central Italy (i.e., 1000 asserae = 1 ox, 100 lbs. of bronze = 1 ox, 10 asserae = 1 sheep, etc.). A system of barter with copper objects had long existed in central Italy where copper was plentiful and valued while silver was rare and gold nearly non-existent. The Italian population had produced aes rude from very early times and they are often found in hoards of votive deposits to divinities of fountains and rivers from the first half of the 1st millennium B.C. down to the end of the 4th century B.C. Called aes formatum by Haeberlin, this rare bronze currency was a precursor to the issues of aes grave, but later than aes rude. [Steve Album; Auc. # 43, Lot 55; May 2022]. This rarity sold for $1440, inc. fees.

Roman Republic As - Janus & Prow

Moneta — Sun, 07 May 2017 15:20:02 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: An anonymous issue of the Rome mint after 211 B.C. Features the iconic head of Janus (god of beginnings looking at the future and the past) and the prow of a galley on the reverse with 'ROMA' in exergue. Crawford 56/2. Janus head has had some smoothing done to the patina, the reverse appears unimproved. This is an unusually nice example. 25.37 g - 1 h; 32mm.

Roman Republic - Brutus FAKE

Moneta — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 15:15:21 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Brutus AR Denarius. 43-42 B.C. Obverse: LEG COSTA. Head of Apollo right. Reverse: IMP BRVTVS. Trophy of Arms. Crawford 506/2 Brutus. Denarius (Silver, 3.83 g 12), struck by Pedanius Costa in a mint moving with Brutus and Cassius in either western Asia Minor or Northern Greece, late summer-autumn 42 BC. LEG COSTA Laureate head of Apollo to right; border of ray-like dots. Rev. BRVTVS IMP Trophy including a helmet, shield, cuirass and two spears. Babelon (Iunia) 42 and (Pedania) 1. Crawford 506/2. CRI 209. Sydenham 1296. Nothing is known about Pedanius Costa, who was the legate of Brutus who signed this coin. What is interesting iconographically about the head of Apollo on the obverse is the way the standard border of dots has been changed to tear-drop shaped rays, thus emphasizing his connection with the sun. Please compare this to poster Michael Buras copy of the same coin, complete with corrosion. With the scarcity and desirability of this iconic coin, and the looks, I've always assumed it was a FAKE. It's interesting to compare it to another copy here in the Museum. But, NO, the copies are not exact copies of each other. Comments are welcome, register and submit. Further info from Baldwins (UK): M. Junius Brutus (c. 42 BC) AR Denarius, moving military mint, Pedanius Costa, legate. COSTA - LEG, laureate head of Apollo facing right. Rev. IMP BRVTVS, military trophy holding pilae and scutum. (Crawford 506/2). This silver denarius of Brutus, struck at a moving mint during the civil war which erupted following the murder of Caesar (in which Brutus wielded a knife), shows a distinct shift from the ideals of freedom and liberty promoted by many of his earlier coins. Notably military in nature, the obverse depicts Apollo, with an inscription noting the military Legate responsible for the coin’s production. The reverse focuses on a military trophy of mail armour, shield, spears and graves, and proclaims Brutus as Imperator. Various other designs were issued by Brutus and Cassius to pay their forces, but it would seem this issue was struck specifically to appeal to the soldiers.

Titus Carisius - Moneta & Mint Implements

Moneta — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 19:27:57 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: Titus Carisius denarius, 45 B.C. - head of Juno Moneta right, one lock of hair falls down her neck; MONETA behind. Rx: T CARISIVS, anvil die with garlanded cap of Vulcan above (some have interpreted it as a die punch), between tongs and hammer, all tools of the mint and the province of The goddess of the mint, Moneta. This particular type refers directly to the office of moneyer; the obverse alludes to the location of the mint, which was adjacent to the temple of Juno Moneta. Again, the reverse depicts the implements used by the mint workers to manufacture coins. This issue ws struck to meet the extreme demand for coinage to pay the veterans of Julius Caesar's quadruple triumph. Often found lightly struck and showing signs of hasty manufacture. Publius Carisius (Carisia, gens) defeated the Astures in Hispania (Cantabrian - Asturian Wars) and took their main town of Lancia (c.25 BC), his cruelty lead to a revolt in 22 B.C. Another of his coin issues identifies him as "triumvir monetalis", or moneyer of the Republic. Good silver, mass is 3.44 g. Sear Vol.1 #447; Crawford 464/2; Sear CRI 70; Sydenham 982; Carisia 1a. VF and better obverse than most, reverse is also well struck. Obverse has two test punches and unusual die error at the ear; edge also exhibits die overlap of obverse over reverse. One of the most modest coins in the Smithsonian exhibition is a slender silver denarius dating from the year 46 BCE. On the obverse is a portrait of the goddess Juno Moneta, in whose temple money was minted (and whose name is the etymological root of money). The reverse, not visible in the exhibition or on the website, shows the tools used in the minting process – tongs to remove molten metal from the furnace and a hammer to strike a design on to it – effectively demystifying the process by which money comes into being. Juno may be supernatural, but making money isn’t magic. More than two millennia after it was struck, the candor of that denarius remains unsurpassed, standing in stark contrast with the cryptic ways of crypto. In our fragile economy, the design brief for future money might begin by requesting money to explain itself. Until that happens, we’ll have to glean what we can from the numismatic galleries of the Smithsonian. [excerpt: Forbes Magazine, on-line, Dec 21, '22, by Jonathon Keats. Still More from E-Sylum (Dec 10, 2023): Juno Moneta (the Warner) appears on a denarius of the moneyer T. Carisius issued in 46 BCE. Her hair is tied back with ribbons and her epithet MONETA is inscribed behind her head. Not much is known about Titus Carisius. He was a supporter of Julius Caesar who survived the civil wars and was defeated the Astures in Hispania circa 25 BCE but in consequence of his cruelty and insolence, the Astures took up arms again in 22 BC. This coin is enormously popular with collectors because it is one of the few types that depicts the implements used to strike ancient coins. On the reverse, we see a hammer, an anvil, a pair of tongs used to handle hot blanks, and a decorated rounded object that is usually described as a Vulcan's cap, the leather hat worn by metal workers to keep flying sparks from setting their hair on fire. Some sources describe this object as a garlanded punch die, but this now seems to be a minority opinion.

Magnentius

stretrader99z — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:09:37 -0700

Roma or Bellona - Uncia

Moneta — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:23:42 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Issue of the Roman Republic (205 - 195 B.C.) during the later part of the 2nd Punic War (218 - 201 B.C.). OB: helmeted head of Bellona facing left with one pellet behind (Uncia). Rx: galley prow right with ROMA above and pellet below. In the Roman pantheon Bellona was either the wife, sister, or daughter of Mars, the god of war. The image is often confused with that of Minerva , however that goddess is associated with denomination 'Triens', represented by four pellets. Bellona first appears on cast AES GRAVE uncia of the early 2nd Punic war [222- 205 B.C]. It is curious, and perhaps more than coincidental, that Bellona [and the uncia denomination] fade from coinage about the same time that the personification of ROMA appears on the denarius, a new denomination [187 - 155 B.C]. With the defeat of the Carthaginians and the Macedonians perhaps this morphing represented an attempt to present a kinder and gentler empire now that Rome had left the homeland and controlled territories beyond the boot of Italy. ANA's CRRO (Coins of the Roman Republic Project; #RRC 38/6) lists this Uncia as depicting Roma with a date of 217 - 215 B.C. This coin is MUCH better in hand, my camera brought forth a mottled green patina that is not seen and the details are much more distinct, it awaits another photo. Mass is 11.7 grams at 24 mm. Sydenham 86, Sear 94.

C NAEVIVS BALBVS

Coin2935 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:22:39 -0800

by: Coin2935

Description: Denarius obv: Head of Venus R: Victory in triga Weight: 3.82g Bought: Harlan J Berk 2009

L RVBRI DOSSENI

Coin2935 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:08:43 -0800

by: Coin2935

Description: Quinarius obv: Head of Neptune R: Victory holding palm leaf and wreath, in front, a garlanded alter with snake coiled around. Weight: 1.75g Bought: Spink 2008

L PROCILI F

Coin2935 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:05:54 -0800

by: Coin2935

Description: Denarius obv: Head of Jupiter R: Juno Sospita holding shield and spear Weight: 4.31g Bought: Goodwin 2008

L PISO LF LN FRVGI

Coin2935 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:03:52 -0800

by: Coin2935

Description: Denarius obv: Apollo R: Naked horseman galloping, holding palm leaf. Weight: 3.71g Bought: CNG

L MARCVS PHILIPPVS

Coin2935 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:01:44 -0800

by: Coin2935

Description: Denarius obv: King Ancus Marcius R: The Aquaduct Marcia Weight: 3.94g Bought: Spink 2008

C VIBIVS VARVS

Coin2935 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:59:10 -0800

by: Coin2935

Description: Denarius obv: head of Liber or Baccus R: Garlanded alter, panther springing Weight: 3.72g Bought: Spink 2008

C LICINVS MACER

Coin2935 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:56:31 -0800

by: Coin2935

Description: Denarius obv: Apollo, thunderbolt in hand R: Minerva in quadriga weight: 2.69g Bought: Goodwin 2008

G IVLIVS CAESAR

Coin2935 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:52:57 -0800

by: Coin2935

Description: obv: diad head ofVenus, wearing necklace. R: Aeneas moving left, holding palladium, bearing his father on shoulders. Weight 3.54g Bought from Spinks 1947.

Augustus Actium Denarius

Michael Buras II — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 15:15:40 -0700

by: Michael Buras II

Description: Augustus AR Denarius minted in 31 B.C. at the crucial Battle of Actium. Historically significant because Augustus' victory over Marc Antony led to him becoming the 1st emperor of Rome. Obverse: AVGVSTVS DIVI F. Bare head of Augustus Right. Reverse: IMP X ACT. Apollo standing left, holding Lyre.

Brutus Trophy Denarius

Michael Buras II — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 15:08:57 -0700

by: Michael Buras II

Description: Brutus AR Denarius. 43-42 B.C. Obverse: LEG COSTA. Head of Apollo right. Reverse: IMP BRVTVS. Trophy of Arms. Crawford 506/2

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